I’ve wanted to do this all afternoon. Now I have the opportunity, I’m not going to hold back.
As our steamy kiss continues, our bodies meld tighter together. Chest to chest. Hip to hip. Pleasure spikes up my spine as I feel his arousal press between my thighs. This kiss is next level compared to my memories from high school.
Luke slowly releases my lips after sufficiently plundering my mouth, leaving me panting. I blink up into his eyes. How did I ever think there was an emptiness in them? They burn down on me now with unconcealed passion.
Taking a bracing breath, I exclaim, “Wow, that’s not how I remember it. I mean, your kisses before were good, but now, they are spectacular. How did you get so good at kissing? Wait, no, I don’t want to know. I don’t care.”
Luke is smiling at me, seemingly quite pleased with himself. “It was my pleasure,” he murmurs close to my ear.
Setting off a new set of sparks shooting down to my core.
“Ahem, yes, I may have noticed.” Glancing down between us.
Luke chokes out a laugh. I shiver at the sound of his sexy deep laugh.
“You’re shivering from the cold, let me warm you up,” he says, mistaking my shiver as related to the weather, not the proximity of his body.
“I’m pretty sure you did help warm me up, but happy for you to do it again,” I reply cheekily.
All my earlier nerves seeming to have disappeared after one amazing kiss.
“Obviously, I didn’t do a particularly good job. How about we grab a cup of hot cocoa? I know a little place not far.” I’m a bit disappointed to be only offered hot cocoa instead of a repeat performance. Ordinarily I would jump at the chance to have anything chocolatey but not this time.
However, I graciously respond to his offer of a warm beverage, “Okay, but only if I can have marshmallows in it.”
“Does a cup of hot cocoa come any other way?” he asks as he begins to lead me along the forested trails winding through the trees. It feels like we are deep in the woods. Glimpses of distant buildings through the tree canopy the only reminder of the city beyond. We rejoin with the paved walkway, then stroll over Gapstow Bridge, hand in hand. I like how this all feels.
As promised, we come to a café selling hot cocoa to go with tiny white marshmallows bobbing on the top. A perfect drink for what is turning out to be a perfect day.
Once we have our cups of cocoa warming our hands, we continue to wander the winding paths.
As we near one of the park’s exits on the east side, Luke breaks the comfortable silence saying, “My apartment is not far from here. Would you like to see it?”
Looking at him suspiciously and questioning his motives, hopefully. “Do you have something special you want to show me?”
“Yep, probably a few special things I could show you. If you're interested, of course.” His eyebrows rise suggestively. Oh yes, back to teasing and flirting, my favorite thing to do with Luke.
On Wednesday night, I wasn’t sure what I wanted with Luke, so I redirected the conversation on to safe topics when he started to flirt with me but today I am all in, especially after our earlier kiss by the lake.
Of course, I also want to see where he lives, how he lives. This man I thought I once knew is now a complete enigma, a puzzle I want to solve.
Chapter 16
Luke
Cassiestepsthroughthedoor of my apartment. Something I didn’t think I would ever see but realize now I had hoped would happen one day.
I bought this apartment late last year, and since then, I've been slowly fitting it out with comfortable, simple furniture. I like clean lines, no clutter. But I also need my home to be my escape, and I think I’m getting the balance right in the living room. There is a comfortable cream sectional with two tan leather chairs to the side, all sitting on a charcoal deep pile rug. A low square oak coffee table sits in the center of the rug, making it a great place to eat while I watch the Knicks play on my huge flat screen.
I haven’t invited a woman back to my apartment before today. In fact, few people have been here. I live a quiet private life. I’m not even sure why I asked Cassie back here. But when she walked through my door, I knew this felt right. Removing my jacket, I throw it across the back of one of the leather chairs.
Cassie walks across the hardwood floors directly toward the large windows spanning the living room wall. She seems to be drawn to the same windows I often find myself standing in front of as I work through a problem or destress at the end of the day.
"Do you like the view? You can see both the city and the park in the distance. I like being able to see green space beyond my four walls."
“It's a great view,” she says, as she continues to gaze out at the cityscape. I’m captivated by the sight of her silhouetted against the fading late afternoon light.
“Beautiful,” I reply quietly. She turns her head back to the room. Smiling at me when she realizes I’m looking at her.
